Pedal attachment for pianos.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

A. 0. BERGMAN. PEDAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1906.

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- arwzntoz Q92 tnaoozo AMOS C. BERGMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PEDAL. ATTAGHMENT FOR PiANGSn Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed January 9, 1906. Serial No. 295,281,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, AMOS C. BERGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Attachments for Improvements in Pedal Planes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pedal-operating devices for pianos designed especially for childrens use, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple, inexpensive device of this character whereby the pedals may be conveniently and effectually operate one which may be readily adjusted for use by children of varying sizes and in connection with pedals of different heights, one wherein the desireth adjustments may be readily effected, and one which subservcs the function of a foot-rest for the operator.

ith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section from front to rear and centrally through a device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the pedal operating members. Fig. 4 is a detail end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the connecting and adjusting screw.

Referring tothe drawings, 1 designates a box or casing constituting a foot-rest and having sustained therein two pairs of spaced suppciting-standards 2, having pivoted re spectively therebetween by means of removable pivoting members or pins 3 a pair of pedal-operating members or levers 1, each provided at its outer end with a pair of transversely-extending pedal-engaging pieces or heads 5 6, of which the pieces 5 normally bear upon the pedals 7, as shown in Fig. 1, it being noted in this connection that the levers 4 are curved in a vertical plane from the pivots 3 to their outer ends and that the standards 2 are each provided with a vertically-spaced series of openings 8 for the reception of the adjacent pin 3 to vary the height of the levers 4 for a purpose which will presently appear.

Pivoted between the pairs of standards 2 and respectively above the levers 1 is a pair of vertically-movable actuating members in the form of foot-levers 9, fulerumed on removable pivoting members or pins 10 and l l 1 i i i 1 l l i i l i i i i 1 i each having its forward portion beyond the pintlcs 10 inclined upwardly and equipped at its outer end with a roller 11, journaled in a bearing member or bracket 12, suitably secured in place, there being pivoted to each of the levers 9 at a point adjacent its rear end a rigid connecting element or red 13, adapted to work through a slot 14:, formed in the rear end of the adjacent underlying lever 1 and threaded at 1 1.- for the reception of an adjustable bearing member or nut 15, designed to bear beneath the lever at and fit in either of a pair of oppositely-disposed seats or recesses 16 formed therein, while pivoted to the rear end of each of the levers 1 is a transverselyextendinglatchingmember orpiccc 17, adapted for normally closing the adjacent end of slot 1 1. Terminallly attached to each of the levers 9 is a leaf-spring 18, adapted to hear at its free end beneath the top of the casing 1 for holding the lever in normal position, there being also terminally attached to each of the levers 9 a leaf-spring 19, the free end of which bears upon the adjacent underlying lever 4: for pressing the same downward upon the bearing-head 15.

Pivoted, as at 20, to the bottom of the box or casing 1 is a substantially U-shaped engaging member 21, the forwardly-projecting arms of which are provided at their outer ends with upturned engaging portions or fingers 22, designed to bear upon the front face of the piano-casing for maintaining the footrest in proper position relative thereto, while the casing 1 is equipped with dowels 23, designed to seat in suitable recesses provided in the upper edges of a removable extension or section 2%, provided for use in varying the height of the casing.

in practice the device is positioned, as shown in Fig. 1, with. the heads 5 of levers 4 resting upon the outer ends of the pedals 7 and the bearing portions 22 of the engaging member 21 bearing against the piano for the purpose above explained. Under these conditions the heels of the operators feet are placed upon the top of the casing 1, which. thus serves as a foet-rest, and with the toe portions of the feet resting upon the rollers 11 for exerting downward pressure upon the outer ends of the levers 9, which action serves, through the medium of the connecting elements or screws 13, to lift the rear ends of levers 1 and cause their forward ends to depress the pedals 7, it being noted that when the levers 9 are relieved of pressure they and the levers 4 will be returned to normal position under the action of springs 18 and 19. It will be observed that the height of the box 1 may be varied to accord with persons of different sizes by employing or removing the l extension-section 24, and, further, that the l for the attainment of the ends in view, it be 3 5 ing understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 0 outer ends of levers 4 may be adjusted to ac- I claim iscord with variations in the height of pedals 7 I 1. In a device of the class described, a box by turning the bearing-pieces l5 upward or f or casing, a pedal-operating lever detachably downward upon the screws H and by changl and p votally connected therein and having ing the pins 3 to the appropriate openings 8. 1 its active end bent upward, whereby said end 4 5 Further, it will be noted that when the extension 24 is employed the levers 4 may be reversed to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1, this operation being effected by withdrawing the pins 3 and turning the latchj pieces 17 to, permit disengagement of the rear ends of the levers with the connectingscrews 13, and also that when the extension l is employed the engaging member 21 may be swung downward to the dotted-line position seen in Fig. 1 for proper engagement with the piano. It may be remarked that inasmuch as the heels of the operators feet rest on the top of the casing the arc of movement of the toe portions of the feet will be at variance with the arc of movement of the outer ends of levers 9 and that the rollers 11 serve to relieve friction between the soles of the feet I and levers for permitting free relative movement of the parts while swinging in their rel spective arcs.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple device admirably adapted of the lever is normally higher than its fulcrum, said lever being adapted for reversal, a foot-lever fulcrumed in the casing above the operating-lever, and means for operatively connecting the rear ends of the levers. 5 o

2. In a device of the class described, a box or casing, a pedal-operating lever detachably and pivotally connected therein and having its active end bent upward, whereby said end of the lever is normally higher than its ful- 55 crum, said lever being adapted for reversal, a foot-lever i'ulcruined in the casing above the operating-let er and provided at its forward end with a bearingroller, and means for operatively connecting the rear ends of the le- 60 vers.

In testimony whereof I affix my sigl'iaturc in presence of two witnesses.

AMOS 0. BER GM AN lVitnesses:

Mrs. A. M. VIRGIL, M. O. MELBER. 

